Rig Veda 9.108.2: Mandala 9, Sukta 108, Mantra 2
Sukta 9.108
- Devata
- Soma Pavamana
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यस्य ते पीत्वा वृषभो वृषायतेऽस्य पीता स्वर्विदः । स सुप्रकेतो अभ्यक्रमीदिषोऽच्छा वाजं नैतशः ॥
yásya te pītvā́ vṛṣabhó vṛṣāyáte 'syá pītā́ svàr-vidaḥ | sá su-práketo abhy-àkramīd íṣo 'cchā vā́jaṃ ná étaśaḥ ||
مَن شَرِبَ مِنكَ صارَ ثَوْرًا في قُوَّتِهِ؛ وبِجُرْعَتِكَ يَغْدُو مُكْتَشِفًا لِعَوَالِمِ الشَّمْسِ، سْفَر (svar). ذاكَ، صَاحِبُ البَصِيرَةِ الوَاضِحَةِ، يَخْطُو قُدُمًا نَحْوَ الدَّوَافِعِ (iṣaḥ) وَنَحْوَ امْتِلَاءِ فَاجا (vāja)، كَإِيتَشَا (Etaśa) السَّرِيعِ.
Word by Word
- यस्य
- of whom/whosePronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- to/for you; yourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; एकवचन (enclitic)Role सम्प्रदान (recipient/possessor in context)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पीत्वा
- having drunkVerb (absolutive)क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रियाRole क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकर्म)Root पा (पिबति) धातु
- वृषभः
- the bull (strong one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषा
- the bull, the virile oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition to वृषभः)Root वृषन्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘male, bull’)
- आयते
- goes forth/advancesVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot या (याति) धातु + आ-उपसर्ग
- अस्य
- of this (one); hisPronounपुं/नपुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पीताः
- drunk; having been drunkParticiple (past passive) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (with implied ‘they’)Root पा धातु (पीत = क्त-प्रत्यय) / पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वर्विदः
- finders of heaven/lightNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition to पीताः)Root स्वर् + विद् (समास/प्रातिपदिक: ‘heaven-finding’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुप्रकेतः
- of good insight; clear-mindedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सु- + प्रकेत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘clear-sighted, of good insight’)
- अभि
- towards; uponIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (directional)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अक्रमीत्
- stepped; strodeVerbलुङ् (आगमयुक्त aorist); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot क्रम् धातु
- इषः
- refreshments; invigorationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन (Vedic form)Role कर्मRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘refreshment, nourishment’)
- अच्छा
- towards; straight toIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (goal/aim)Root अच्छा (अव्यय)
- वाजम्
- prize; strength; (victory-)bootyNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- नैतशः
- Naitaśa (name/epithet)Noun (Proper) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition to सः)Root नैतश (प्रातिपदिक; proper name/epithet)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यस्य | ते | पीत्वा | वृषभः | वृषा | आयते | अस्य | पीताः | स्वर्विदः | सः | सुप्रकेतः | अभि | अक्रमीत् | इषः | अच्छ | वाजम् | नैतशः || 1) आयतेऽस्य = आयते + अस्य (अ + अ → ’, avagraha). 2) अक्रमीदिषोऽच्छा = अक्रमीत् + इषः + अच्छा
- त् + इ → दि (जश्त्व/संधि-प्रभाव), तथा इषोऽच्छा = इषः + अच्छा (ः + अ → ओऽ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
One who drinks Soma becomes bull-like in strength; by that draught he finds the sun-worlds (svar). Full of clear perception, he strides to the impulsions and the plenitude, like Etaśa the swift.
Inner meaning
When the seeker assimilates purified delight (Soma), the inner being becomes vṛṣabha—strong, masterful, capable of overcoming resistance. Soma’s ananda opens the supramental/solar ranges (svar), making one a ‘finder of the light-worlds.’ With supraketu (clear luminous perception), consciousness advances toward iṣaḥ (divine impulsions/inspirations) and vāja (plenitude, integral power), moving with the swiftness of Etaśa—symbol of rapid, straight progress of illumined energy.
Universal truth
Inner joy, rightly received, turns into strength and clear perception; it opens higher possibilities and accelerates progress toward inspired action and fullness of being.
Themes
Soma-ritual, attainment of light, spiritual strength, progress/striding
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.108.1, RV 9.107.25
Family tradition
Soma hymns often present the ‘drinker’ as the inner sacrificer: the human consciousness empowered by Soma to become Indra-like and solar-finding.
Significance
The rishi-vision describes a repeatable inner law: ananda assimilated becomes strength, opens the solar worlds, and produces swift progress toward inspired action and plenitude.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- svarvit (giver/finder of the sun-world), balada (strength-giver, implied), supraketu-bestower (implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (bull-force and victory), Sūrya (svar/solar worlds), Aśvins (swift advance motif)
Cosmic role
Soma as the empowering nectar that enables ascent to luminous planes and grants victorious strength and plenitude.
Inner power
Ananda that transforms into courage, clarity, and swift progress; the nectar that makes consciousness ‘solar’.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-drinking/Indra-strengthening context within Soma-yajña
यस्य॑ ते पी॒त्वा वृ॑ष॒भो वृ॑षा॒यते॒ऽस्य पी॒ता स्व॒र्विद॑: । स सु॒प्रके॑तो अ॒भ्य॑क्रमी॒दिषोऽच्छा॒ वाजं॒ नैत॑शः ॥
यस्य॑ । ते॒ । पी॒त्वा । वृ॒ष॒भः । वृ॒ष॒ऽयते॑ । अ॒स्य । पी॒ता । स्वः॒ऽविदः॑ । सः । सु॒ऽप्रके॑तः । अ॒भि । अ॒क्र॒मी॒त् । इषः॑ । अच्छ॑ । वाज॑म् । न । एत॑शः ॥
yasya | te | pītvā | vṛṣabhaḥ | vṛṣa-yate | asya | pītā | svaḥ-vidaḥ | saḥ | su-praketaḥ | abhi | akramīt | iṣaḥ | accha | vājam | na | etaśaḥ
Likely Triṣṭubh (dynamic heroic movement; 4 pādas of ~11 syllables)
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4 x 11 (approx.)
Strong, stepping cadence matching ‘stride forward’ and heroic increase of power.
Builds confidence and forward drive; supports a sense of conquest over inertia and entry into light.
- pītvā
- Literal: having drunk. Symbolic: having inwardly assimilated delight-consciousness
- vṛṣabha
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: sovereign strength and mastery in the being
- vṛṣāyate
- Literal: acts as a bull; grows mighty. Symbolic: expands power and courage for inner victory
- svarvidaḥ
- Literal: finder of svar (sun-worlds). Symbolic: discoverer of higher luminous planes of consciousness
- supraketa
- Literal: of clear sign/clear perception. Symbolic: luminous discernment; intuitive clarity
- abhyakramīt
- Literal: strode forward. Symbolic: decisive advance in yoga, crossing limitations
- iṣaḥ
- Literal: impulsions, seekings. Symbolic: divine inspirations and right-moving urges
- vāja
- Literal: prize, plenitude, strength. Symbolic: fullness of power, integral accomplishment
- etaśa
- Literal: Etaśa (swift one, solar horse). Symbolic: rapid solar movement—swift illumined energy
Soma as the drink that makes the sacrificer/Indra ‘bull-like’ and a finder of svar; used in chants emphasizing attainment of light and strength
During or around Soma libations, especially those invoking strength and victory
Recitation to affirm the effect of Soma: strength, solar finding, progress to vāja
Chant before challenging tasks or during sadhana plateaus to invoke strength with clarity—‘bull-power’ without aggression.
√pā ‘drink’ is both ritual and psychological assimilation. vṛṣabhá/vṛṣāyate uses the bull-image for intensified power. svar-vid is a key illumination epithet: svar (sun-light/world) + vid (√vid ‘know/find’) = the discoverer of luminous truth. √kram ‘stride’ expresses decisive progress. iṣ ‘impulsion’ denotes living energies of inspiration rather than mere ‘food’.
svar as luminous plane of consciousness, iṣ as inspired impulsion, inner strengthening (vṛṣa/bull symbolism)
Iṣaḥ are right-moving impulsions aligned with ṛta; Soma makes them accessible and effective.
Supraketu implies truth-perception guiding the forward stride.
Ascent and manifestation: from delight to strength to solar realization to plenitude in life.
Integral ascent: ananda → illumination (svar) → empowered action (iṣaḥ) → fullness (vāja).
midday/solar zenith (implied by svar finding)
Bull = mastered force; sun-worlds = higher luminous consciousness; horse = swift prāṇa under guidance; nectar = ananda assimilated.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Drinking Soma makes one ‘bull-strong’ and a ‘finder of svar’: the sacramental delight transforms the seeker into a powerful agent who discovers the luminous world and strides swiftly toward inspired energies and vāja (victorious plenitude).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- mádhu and svar motifs belong to a shared IE poetic inheritance of sweetness and solar light. √vid (in svar-vid) reflects PIE *weid- ‘see/know’ (cf. Latin videre, English wit), strongly supporting the epistemic sense ‘finder/knower of light’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Soma is presented as the transformative substance: the rishi points to an experiential law—by drinking Soma (assimilating delight-force), the human becomes capable of luminous knowing (svar-vid) and swift spiritual advance (kram).
Assimilate joy as strength; open to solar clarity; take the next decisive step toward inspired action and fullness.
Maṇipūra (strength) to Sahasrāra/Ājñā (solar clarity)
Power-breath with restraint: 6-count inhale, 2-count hold (optional), 6-count exhale; feel strength rise without agitation
Heroic clarity; luminous determination
After chanting, sit and feel a ‘solar bull-strength’ in the core and a clear light in the head. Identify one right impulsion (iṣa) and take one concrete step (abhyakramīt) toward it—swift, simple, aligned.
Rigvedic svara as marked; keep Triṣṭubh-like stepping—clear caesuras and strong udātta emphasis on power-words (vṛṣabha, svarvidaḥ, supraketo).
Let the first half build strength; brighten tone on ‘svarvidaḥ’; give a decisive forward push on ‘abhy akramīt’.
vṛṣabho (retroflex ṣ, clear ṛ), vṛṣāyate (long ā), svarvidaḥ (sv- cluster), supraketo (su-pra-ke-to), abhyakramīt (abhy a-), etaśaḥ (śa, not sa)
Firm, steady, slightly heroic; avoid harshness—strength with clarity
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